How to Increase Breast Milk Supply

Breast Milk is a magic potion for a newborn as it is the ultimate source of complete nutrition that enhances immunity and promotes growth. On the other hand, breastfeeding helps the mother to keep certain critical diseases like breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure at bay. Breast milk is recommended to be the sole source of food for babies for the first five to six months and at this critical juncture, even water is not to be given to babies as mother's milk is more than sufficient. Thereafter, semi-solids and solids have to be given along with breast milk upto 12 months of age.

But during the various phases in the lactation period, a mother faces the challenge of low milk supply due to lack of sleep, stress, hormonal imbalance, dehydration, improper diet, and illness. In such cases, the parents may have to resort to formula feed as a supplement. This is indeed a stressful time but a mother starts to look for genuine and natural ways on how to increase breast milk.

The aim of this article is to dwell upon the tips to increase breast milk so that new mothers can keep up with ample supply on a daily basis for their growing baby. Also, we will be looking at the benefits of breast milk and some of the most common questions and answers on how to increase breast milk naturally at home. Just relax and keep on reading ahead to know the solutions for all your queries and doubts. So, without further ado, let's begin and dive deep into the beautiful world of feeding breast milk.

Benefits of Breast Milk

There is immense importance of breast milk for babies because it nourishes, protects, and soothes. The WHO(World Health Organization) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months in a baby's life. In such a scenario, it is significantly important to understand the real benefits of breast milk. Let's check each of these points:

Tips to Increase Breast Milk

You would be glad to know that consumption of certain foods can help in boosting the supply naturally without any side effects and are conveniently available in your kitchen. Let's look at all the items and tips one by one:

1. Fenugreek seeds:

Boil one spoon of fenugreek seeds soaked overnight with one glass of water. Strain, cool, and drink the concoction every day.

2. Cumin seeds and cardamom:

Take one heaped spoonful of cumin seeds, 2-3 cardamom, and boil them in 3 cups of water. Strain, cool, and drink it every night before bed time.

3. Fennel seeds:

Add one spoon of fennel seeds to 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Now cover the lid, let the drink to cool down, and then sip it slowly. Follow it twice a day for atleast a month.

4. Cinnamon:

Enjoy a cup of lukewarm milk coupled with a pinch of cinnamon powder and honey, every night before sleeping.

5. Garlic:

Garlic has wonderful health benefits and helps to boost up the supply as well. Try to add garlic to your meals including vegetables and lentils or simply chew one garlic clove in the morning.

6. Moong and masoor daal:

Cook the healthy and delicious yellow and orange daal along with ghee and rock salt for best results and increase in the milk supply.

7. Vegetables:

Consuming a variety of vegetables like carrots, beetroot, and bottle gourd assists in pumping up the supply.

8. Drumsticks:

Drinking the fresh juice of drumsticks for a month can significantly enhance the milk supply.

9. Dry fruits:

Cashews, raisins, pistachios, walnuts, and overnight soaked almonds, when taken in the morning provides healthy fats and antioxidants.

10. Flax seeds and sesame seeds:

Flax seeds are loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids and sesame seeds with calcium. Consuming them would be beneficial for health and milk supply.

11. Oats:

Oats are a rich source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. They also elevate the mood and prevent anxiety and depression postpartum.

12. Papaya:

Consuming papaya enhances the oxytocin levels in the body, thereby increasing the supply of milk.

13. Dill leaves:

They are a rich source of Vitamin A, C, K, and fibre. When consumed regularly, they help to aid digestion and replenish the milk supply.

14. Ghee and butter:

Both these sources of fat have to be a part of the postnatal diet to provide nutrition and strength to the recovering mother.

15. Water:

Breast milk is mainly made of water. So consuming water throughout the day, especially before and after breastfeeding or pumping is essential.

16. Shatavari:

This is an ayurvedic supplement easily available in the supermarkets in the form of powder and tablets. It can be conveniently taken with water and it pumps up the milk supply to a great extent without any side effects.

17. Ginger:

Ginger can be easily consumed by adding it to the food or boiling it while preparing a beverage like tea. It actually helps to enhance the milk supply when taken regularly.

18. Star Anise:

This spice is loaded with the goodness of Anethole that mimics the activity of the estrogen hormone and boosts the production of milk in lactating mothers.

19. Relax and rest:

One of the most important factor that leads to a decrease in milk production is lack of proper rest and relaxation to the mother. The family members should ensure that a new mother gets sufficient rest and is not stressed.

20. Healthy and balanced diet:

A new mother should maintain a healthy and balanced diet, especially just after delivery, so that a proper and sufficient supply of milk can be ensured.

While following the above tips, it is also imperative to keep pumping using a breast pump regularly in case breastfeeding is not feasible.

FAQs

Let's look at some of the most common questions revolving around on how to increase breast milk:

Final Words

Every mother wants to see her baby growing and thriving. A sufficient supply of breast milk ensures just that and takes care of all the nutritional and developmental requirements. But due to the reasons mentioned in this article, a mother can face issues regarding the low milk supply at any given time. In such circumstances, a mother tries her level best to get back the supply as soon as possible through dietary, supplemental, and stimulating techniques. With continuous efforts, the appropriate supply of breast milk can be achieved within a reasonable time.

We hope that these noteworthy tips on how to increase breast milk naturally at home prove to be effective for the new and lactating mothers. One thing to remember is that however low is the supply, the mother should never lose hope and keep on trying. And within some time, you will notice that your baby is gaining weight and produces optimum wet diapers which indicate towards sufficient breast milk. Do let us know in the comments down below the tips that you found to be the most effective and what worked for you in your feeding journey.